LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Another strong month at Nevada casinos brought in $ 1.1 billion in gambling winnings, the sixth consecutive month of billions as the economic recovery revs its engine.
Clark County alone reported over $ 1 billion in profit for September, totaling $ 1,005,184,833.
Game winnings – the amount the casinos take from players – generates tax revenue for the state, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) reports the state raised $ 72.9 million so far as of October. That’s a 7.5% increase from October 2020 – about $ 5 million more, according to an NGCB press release.
The series of billions in profits continues through the summer peak of COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant. A mask mandate that went into effect in late July as cases rose didn’t stand in the way of the casinos’ success.
Numbers released Wednesday by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority (LVCVA) show that visitor volume has actually dropped 2.1% – about 64,000 visitors. Clark County is still about 15% below pre-pandemic attendance levels.
The lower attendance is likely due to the ongoing impact on convention schedules and international travel. The available hotel rooms are about 73% occupied.
The total number of visitors in September was 2,935,600 according to LVCVA figures.
The Las Vegas Strip produced $ 640 million of the state’s total gaming winnings, up from $ 625 million in August.
Compared to 2020, the numbers are enormous. September gaming profit is 41% higher than September 2020, and for the fiscal year gaming profit is up more than 58%.
Year-to-year comparisons are exaggerated because the pandemic has flattened casino activity over the past year as occupancy and travel restrictions have severely restricted operations.
